by: Dog Lane Fishery 
 
A coarse fishing match is a great way to pit your angling skills against others. Most private fishing lakes hold matches on a regular basis, or allow clubs to book one or more of their lakes to hold a club match. Competition is tough and anglers use every bit of experience and knowledge they have in order to catch the biggest fish.

Coarse fishing matches are usually organised by the water’s landowner, or an angling club, and they will often supply a steward or match organiser to ensure that rules are followed and all anglers are complying with restrictions on tackle and bait.

When a match is announced, there are usually more anglers who want to compete than there are spaces, so it’s important to keep a look out for matches in your area and to book quickly. There will usually be a closing time for applications and you will be informed of the rules that apply to that particular match.

Spaces, or Pegs, for each match are usually drawn at random before the match starts so that no angler can guarantee which peg they are going to get. Once allocated a peg, the angler must fish from that spot for the entire match. Most match rules state that if the angler has to leave his or her peg, they reel the line in so that they are not leaving a line unattended.

You must make sure that you have read the rules properly so that you only bring the tackle and bait that are allowed. Rules are strictly enforced and anyone found abusing them will be disqualified from the match.

Fish are weighed by a steward as they are caught and the steward also supervises the fish’s return to the lake. The angler who has caught the heaviest fish at the end of the allotted time period is the winner.

Coarse fishing matches are a great way to test your angling skills and to get to know other anglers. Give it a try at your local fishing water.

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